George Henry Peachey-Edwards (1894-1972) worked for Bethnal Green Borough Council for forty years, rising to become the Chief Clerk. In 1960 Bethnal Green Borough Council named a block of sheltered housing after him, probably to mark his retirement.
We wish they'd also documented what was so special that he was honoured in this way, and arranged for the text to be archived somewhere accessible to future Google searches!
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has endeavoured to research this man and found he used various combinations of names with the occasional use of a hyphen. Andrew advises that George Henry Peachey-Edwards was born on 17 March 1894. His birth was listed as George Henry Edwards, the son of Elizabeth Edwards, in the Register of Births in the Workhouse of St Marylebone, Marylebone Road, Westminster, London.
In the 1901 census there is a George Peachey listed as aged 7 years, living in 'Woodside' Cookham, Berkshire, with his mother Elizabeth Peachey who was described as a widow and a domestic housekeeper.
When he married Beatrice Ivy Gover (1897-1970) on 15 April 1918 in St Boniface Church, Nursling, Southampton, Hampshire, he is shown in the marriage register as George Henri Claudius Peachey-Edwards, aged 24 years, a bachelor and an army officer, living at Cowes, Isle of Wight, the son of the deceased George F. Peachey Edwards, a gentleman, whilst his wife was described as aged 20 years, a spinster residing in Nursling, the daughter of Alfred Gover, a farmer. (He was using a hyphen in his signature)
He was serving as Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Tank Corps as George Henry Edwards when he was injured and discharged on 20 September 1918. He was awarded a Silver War Badge, serial number B13547, that was sent to his home address in October 1918 at 'Stratton', Granville Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight.
When their son was baptised on 28 December 1919 at Nursling Parish Church, Hampshire, he was shown as Claude Hawtrey Peachey-Edwards (1919-1966) and the family were shown to be residing in Chigwell Row.
When he completed his 1921 census return form he described himself as George H Peachey Edwards, aged 27 years, 6 months, married, who had been born in Marylebone, London, a clerk/local government officer employed by Bethnal Green Borough Council and was living in an eight roomed property at 'South View', Fairview Road, Chigwell Row, Essex, with his wife whom he described as Beatrice Ivy Peachey Edwards, aged 23 years, 7 months, having been born in Nursling, Hampshire and their son who was listed as Claude Hawtrey Peachey Edwards, aged 1 year, 8 months having been born in Southampton. (He was not using a hyphen in his signature).
The 1939 England and Wales Register, confirms his date of birth as 17 March 1894 listing him as Peachey Edwards, George H, a clerk in the Town Clerks Office and ARP Duties Control. He was living at 49 Fairholme Avenue, Romford, with his wife (No hyphen recorded).
In the 1954 edition of the Outer London - Essex telephone directory he is listed as Peachey-Edwards G.H, 49 Fairholme Av, Romford. Tel: Hornchurch 6386.
His death, aged 78 years, was registered as George Henry Peachey-Edwards in the 2nd quarter of 1972 in the Romsey Registration District, Hampshire. Probate records that listed him as Peachey-Edwards George Henry, confirm that his address had been 'Chesildene', Woodley Lane, Romsey, Hampshire and that he died on 16 May 1972. Administration of his estate was granted on 22 June 1972 and his effects totalled £13,950.
He is shown as 'George Henry Peachey-Edwards' on the plaque attached to Peachey Edwards House in Teesdale Road, London, E2.
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